Interoperability: Joint Research by Microsoft and Novell

Microsoft and Novell have announced the opening of an Open Interoperability Lab within the scope of cooperation between the two companies.

The laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will serve to extend and reinforce cooperation between the two partners. Software experts will design and develop new software at the lab, and work on new solutions in collaboration with the community and customers. The objective is to improve interoperability between Microsoft Windows Server and Suse Linux Enterprise say the cooperation partners.

Developers and other experts from Microsoft and Novell will be joining forces on a floor space of 2,500 square meters to work on over 80 servers with different architectures. Maximum priority is being assigned to improving interoperability between various virtualization solutions offered by the two companies. In addition to this, there will be development work on the development of standards-based system management solutions. Of course, work on office formats will continue as agreed in cooperation agreements.

Microsoft and Novell have both agreed to integrate solutions and technologies by other vendors. In doing so, the partners are hoping to create as large a heterogeneous environment as possible to reflect the current IT landscape and customer needs with respect to interoperability.

The battle in the virtualization market enters a new phase: Sun Microsystems released new versions of its virtualization software Sun xVM. And a few days ago Red Hat announced its takeover of Qumranet, makers of the virtualizer KVM. Meanwhile Microsoft and Novell are teaming up to counter with their own Microsoft Hyper-V and Suse Linux Enterprise Server offerings.

Novell today announced a new initiative to increase revenue and profitability for solution providers and consulting partners who specialise in selling Novell® technologies. Among other benefits, Novell will offer enhanced partner education, joint marketing opportunities, and free technical support for those partners demonstrating expertise in selling and supporting Novell software.